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to Bishop David's blog. Here you can find news, information, articles and pictures about the Church of England Diocese in Europe. We have over 300 congregations or worship centres serving Anglican and (mostly) English-speaking people in Europe, Morocco, Turkey, Russia and some central Asian countries.

Thursday, 10 November 2011

Pro Cathedral in Brussels offers an "all-in-one" service

The Revd Augustine Nwaekwe

It felt like the Anglican Communion was gathered at Holy Trinity Pro-Cathedral in Brussels on 9 October for a liturgy which was described by the Revd Augustine Nwaekwe, the Assistant Chaplain in Brussels, as an "All-in-One" service. As Fr Augustine noted, "it incorporated baptism,
confirmation, admission into the Church of England, "churching"- thanksgiving after childbirth,
and a memorial thanksgiving service for the father of a member!

Candidates for confirmation from Holy Trinity Brussels were joined by others from from St Pauls Tervuren and the English Church at Oostende. Clergy present included the Reverends Clifford Owen (Oostende), Gillian Wilton (Tervuren), Jack MacDonald (Leuven),
Robert Innes, and Augustine Nwaekwe (Brussels).

The 2 1/2 hour service had a distinctive African style, with the multi-lingual music provided by Holy Trinity's African Choir "Living Waters
Singers" led by Dr David Mitchell. The name of one of the confirmands, Omotayo, means "a child is more than joy" in Yoruba. "More than joy" summed up the feelings of the day, which ended with an African banquet in the parish hall of the pro-Cathedral.

It was an elated but exhausted bishop that Fr Augustine sent off on a train back to London after the festivities!

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About me

Burmese-Scottish, educated in Canada. Former priest in Niagara Diocese, Anglican C. of Canada’s Mission Co-ordinator for Latin America & the Caribbean, and Anglican Communion's Director of Ecumenical Affairs & Studies. Bishop since 2002. IARCCUM co-chairman. My wife Dr Colleen Hamid is a medical researcher. We have two sons, Jonathan and Michael. My office is in that great European city called London